Manure-loader.



E. M. WARRENFELTZ.

MANURE LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED APRJ. 1910.

Patented July 18, 1911.

@vih/www E. M. WARRENFBLTZ.

MANURB LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED APRJ. 1910.

Patented July 18, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

E. M. WARRENFELTZ.

MANURE LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED 111111,?, 1910A 998,058. Patnted July 18,1911.

4 SHEETSSHEET 34 E. M. WARHENFELTZ.

MANURE LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.7,19,10.

Patented July 18, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

EDWARD M. WARRENFELTZ, 0F' F'UNKSTOWN, MARYLAND.

M-NURE-LOADER.

oas-,05s.

Speci'cation of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed' July f8; 1%911.

Appiication mea April 7.1910. serial No. 553,987.

To all whom 'it may concern'.

Be it known lthat I, EDWARD M. WARREN- FELTZ, citizen of the United States, residing at Funkstown, in the count-y of Washington and State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Manure-Loaders, of which the following is a specifica-tion. v

Thisinvention relates to loading devices and more particularly to a machine especially designed for gathering manure and loading the same on a spreader, wagon or other vehicle.

The object of the invention is to provide a manure loader including a truck having a drum mounted for rotation thereon and provided with peripheral gathering devices, lmeans being provided for. conveying vthe manureelevated.by the gathering devices to asuitable point of discharge.

A furtherobject is to provide an extensiblechute for conducting the 'manure to a wagon. or other vehicle, and means for moving the chute toextended and retracted positions, thereby to', permit loading of the wagon from the center thereof toward either end or from either end of said wagon toward the center thereof.

A further object is to provide a chute formed of a plurality of extensible sections, one of which constitutes a shaking table and serves to agitate the manure or other material deposited thereon.

A' further object is to -provide a drum having co-acting conveyers mounted for rotation. above the same andadapted to receive the manure from the gathering devices` and deliverthe same to the chute, or feed the manure directly to a spreader.v

A Afurther object is to provide means for yieldably-,su'pportin one of the conveyers,

thereby to allow a llmited lateral movement thereof in case a stone or other foreign body is 'elevated with the manure and thus prevent'breakage of said conveyer.

.Av further object-is to providemeans forv permitting rearward movement of the machine without affecting. the gathering devices.

. A still furtherobject of the invention. is generally toimprove this class of devices sov as to increase theirv utility, durability and eticiency.. i

IFurther objects and advantages lwill appear in the following description, it. being understood that variousl changes in: form-,-

tangular formed ofangle iron. and including spaced proportions and, minor details of construcinvention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview Fig; 3 is a. vertical sectional. view, the

conveyers being. shown .in elevation Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the transverse shaft, showing. the clutch members for advancing and retract-ing the chute;

Fig.' 5 is a side elevation of the co-acting conveyers; F ig..6 is adetailI perspective view of one of the cranky shafts with the gathering. devices or spurs in positionV thereon; Fig. Z is a detail Yperspective', view of one of the flights of the conveyer; Fig. 8 is a detail lperspective view, showing the pawl for locking* the traction disk inl engagement with the drum. v

Corresponding-'and like parts are referred toin .the following. description and indicated in all the views ofthe drawingsv by the same reference characters. 4 l

The device comprises a substantially recsupporting.,v frame preferably side bars- 5 connected in anyf-suitable manner v,by end-bars 6 and.7. Extendingtransversely across' the frame is astationary shaft 8 having its intermediateportion 'of :substantially rectangular cross sectional formation, as shown in Fig. -2 of the drawings and its opposite ends provided with reduced trunnions 9l seated..` in. suitable bearingsin. thel si de bars .5. `Mounted? for rotation on the trunnions 9 is a drum or cylinder 1.0 having.l its rim formed with. a series of..rows of. transverse openings 11` lto permit the passage'of gathering vdevices or spurs 12, the latter being adaptedtocollect .the manure and elevate the samey asl the machine travels over'the surface ofa ieldor 'other inclosure.

Extending,` transversely through. the shaft distant-axle 'halving` its opposite ends proin an operating lever 1.5, asbestl shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Pivotally mounted at 16 on. the side bars 5 of theframe are bars 11 to which are nivotallyconnected at 18 the adfjacent. ends' of links 19, the opposite ends ot the linlrs l@ being pivotally connected at 2O to the adjacent cranlr arms 14. The pivots 18 are preferably extended laterally to torni stub arles on which are journaled ground wheels 21.

Extending parallel with the operating lever 15 is a locking lever 22 having it upper end connected to the lever 15 and its ower end enlarged and provided with a transverse slot 23. A spring1 24` entends across the face oi 'the locking lever 22 with one end thereof secured to said locking lever and its other end extended through the slot 23 for attachment lto the locking lever 15. The tension of the spring 24 is such as to normally and yieldahly retain the slotted end olf the locking lever in the path ot the supporting trame of the truclr so as to hold said supporting trame in lowered position and thus permit the active ends of the spurs 12 to engage the ground when the device is in use. ln order to raise the supporting frame and thus elevate the active ends ot the spurs 12 above the ground when 'transferring the machine trono place to place, it is merely necessary to press laterally on the upper end of the locking lever 22 which disengages the slotted end of said locking lever from the adjacent side bar ot the support ing frame, when a downward pressure en erted on the operating lever 15 will cause the crank arms 14 and links 19 to be moved to n t a position in vertical alinement to each other and in which position the supporting frame carrying the drum will be elevated.

The gathering devices or spurs 12 are rigidly secured to suitable crank shafts 25 dis posed within the drum or cylinder 10, the opposite ends of the crank shafts 25 being journaled in the side walls 26 of the drum, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Secured to each shaft 25, is an arm 27 having an angular extension 289 which latter is journaled in a clip or bearing 28, fastened to the inner wall of the drum. A coil spring 29 surrounds the angular extension 28 'ot each arm 27 with one end thereof bearing against the inner wall of the drum and its other end provided with a hooked terminal 30 which embraces the adjacent crank shaft l25 and serves to normally and yieldably hold the gathering devices or spurs 12 within the drum or cylinder 10.

As a means for successively moving the pointed ends of the spurs 12 outwardly through the openings 11 at predetermined intervals so as to elevate the manure or other material, there is provided an actuating member or cam 31 including spaced brackets 32 having slotted arms 83 and provided with longitudinal flanges 34 which slidably engage suitable guide plates 35 secured to the opposite ends of the angular portion or the shaft 8. One or more rollers 36 are preterably mounted on each crank shaft 25- for engagement with the cam tace oit the actuating member 31 so as to reduce friction between the parts when the machine is in opn eration. rlhus it will be seen that as the machine is caused to travel over the surface of a .field or other inclosure, the rollers 36 will successively engage the cam tace of the actuating member 31 and move the pointed ends of the spurs or gathering devices 12 outwardly through the openings 11 and thus collect the manure or other material on the ground, said material being carried up on the spurs 12 to a point approximately in vertical alinement with the shaft 89 at which point the rollers 36 will clear the actuating member or cam 31 so as toiallow the springs 29 to automatically retract the spurs land move the same to inoperative position within the cylinder or drum l0, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Loosely mounted on the trunnions 9 are wheels or disks 37 having radiating spokes 38 and4 provided with peripheral. traction devices or spurs 39 adaptedto bite into ,the ground when the supporting frame is moved to lowered position.

Secured in any suitable manner to the opposite ends 26 of the revolving cylinder or drum, are spring pawls 409 the odset por tions- 41 of which are adapted to engage the spokes 38l of the members 37 when the machine'is traveling in a4 forward direction so as to transmit motion trom the members 37 to the drum or cylinder 10. lWhen the machine'is moved rearwardly, the traction wheels 37 will ride over the pawls 40 without adecting the drum lO'and consequently without disturbing the material taken up by or deposited on the gathering devices or spurs.

Mounted on the forward end ot the truck are standards 42, the upper ends ofl which are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to a transverse har 43. Secured to the upper surface ot vthe bar 43 are spaced vertically disposed brackets 44 having rearwardly eX- tending 4arms 45, the latter being provided with slot-tedy ears 46 for engagement with the upper ends of the brackets 44, said brackets and arms forming in e'ect a rigid auxiliary supporting traine for the elevating conveyors 47 and 48. The rear oonveyer 47 comprises spaced side plates 49 having transverse shafts() journaled therein and to which are secured sprocket wheels 51 for engagement with sprocket chains 52. Secured to the sprocket chains 52 are transverse ights `53, each preferably formed of a` single strip of met-al having one end thereofA provided with an angularly disposed lip 54 adapted to receive and elevate the manure.

The side plates 49 of the rear conveyor 47 are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the arms 45 of the auxiliary frame., while the Sido pieces 55 of the iront conveyer' 48 are pivotally mounted on the arms 45 so as to allow a sli htlateral movement -of'one conveyer relatlvely to the other. The front conveyer 48 is similar in construction to the rear conveyer' 47 and co-acts therewith to elevate the material collected byV the gathering devices .or spurs 12 so that the material may be discharged directly onto a spreader or directed by a chute 56 to a Wagon or other vehicle adapted to receive the same.

It will here be noted that as the conveyers 47 and 48 are'rotated,` the lips 54 of the nights will register with each other and thus form in effect pockets .which serve to prevent accidental displacement of the material during the eleva-ting `operation.v Disposed on opposite sides of the conveyers` are coil springs 57 having their opposite ends secured in-any suitablemanner 'to' said conveyers so as to normally and yieldably support the conveyers in l proper spaced relation, while at the same time allowing a' Aslight lateral movement of one conveyer relatively to the other, thus to prevent injury to or breakage vof said conveyers should a stone or other foreign body be carried up by the manure for` delivery to the spreader' or Wagon.v

The upper shaft 50 of each endless conveyer is extended longitudinally on. one side of the frame and provided with a sprocket wheel 58 forv engagement with a sprocket chain 59, the latter being yextended over a sprocket Wheel 60 secured to a shaft 61 journaled in t e lowerends of the brackets 44,

Secure to and mounted for rotation with one of the Wheels or disks 37 is a sprocket Wheel 62, which latter is connected through themedium of a sprocket chain 63 withl a relatively small sprocketl wheel 64 secured to "or formed integral "with the sprocket wheel 60, thus tot-ra-nsmit motion from theA traction Wheelor disk 37 tol the sprocket wheel 64 and thence through the medium -lof the sprocket chain 59 to the sprocket Wheels 58 t0 actuate the co-acting conveyers 47 and 48. .f

Journaled in suitable bearings in the rear ends of the arms 45 is a'transverse shaft65 having spaced-friction disks 66 mounted on the opposite ends thereof and normally and yieldablly supported in contact with each other by coil springs 67. Oneof the friction disks 66 of each set is keyed or otherwise secured to -the shaft 65, as indicated at 68., while 4the mating disk of said set is slidably mounted on Vthe shaft, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the' drawings. Secured to one end of the vshaft 65 is a sprocket wheel 69 .which engagesthe sprocket chain 59, thus to trans' mit motion to the shaft 65.5 v

The inner faces ofthe friction disks 66 are cut-away to form register' grooves 7 0 adapted to receive the supporting arms (1 of the chute 56 as will be more fully explained hereina r. The chute 56 is preferably formed in three sections 72, 73 and 74,

the lower section 7 2 being rigidly secured to the upper supporting arm-7 1, while the intermediate section 73 is slidably mounted on )the arm-71 and isarranged to telescope the stationary section 72, said sections being pro' crank pin 78 extending laterally from the sprocket wheel 58,- while Vthe opposite ends of the `bars 77 are projected` downwardly yand thence laterally to form inwardly extending g'uide lips 79 which bear against the loweredges of the intermediate section 7 3. y

Extending transversely across the free-end of the terminalchute section`72,'is a shaft 80 having wheels or rollers e, 81 journaled thereon and adapted to travel on the upper edge of the Wagon box 76 during the loading operation, the chute ybeingfso arranged that the same'may.bejextendedor retracted, thus to permit loading of the wagon from4 either end thereof toward the center orl from the center of the Wagon toward either end. The

rear end of the intermediate chute section 73 is provided with'an upstanding lip 83 which engages asimilar lip formed on`the corrugated section 74, thus to limit the outward or extensible movement of said intermediate section. 1As. a means for advancing and re tractingthe chute, there is provided a rocking frame4 18.4 including spaced angularly disposed arms pivotally mounted at 85 on the arms'45 and having pivotally connected therewith at 86, slotted levers 87. Mounted lfor rotation on 'the rocking frame 84 are groove'd rollers 88, there being similar grooved rollers 89 journaled onV the lower' ends of the `slotted levers 87 Extending laterally from the arms .45 of lthe auxiliary supporting frame, are pins 90 n thereot1 secured to the lower end ot the adjacent slotted lever 87 and its other end tastened to the side piece ot said conveyor.

Secured to the upper ends ot the angular arms 8e constituting the rocking frame, are converging rods 93 having a longitudinally disposed actuating rod 94 secured thereto at the junction thereof and extended to an op erating lever 95 mounted on the wagon or vehicle 76. The operating leverk 95 is provided with a spring catch or pawl 96 which co-acts with a notched rack 97 also secured to the wagon Z6 for the purpose of locking the lever in different positions ot adjustment, rlhus it will be seen that by moving the lever 95 in the direction of the arrow indicated in lli 2 of the drawings, the springs will torce the upper legs of the chute supporting loops or arms 7l down-- wai-diy between the adjacent disks 65 so as to cause said disks 66 to rictionally engage the loops or arms and thus move said arms in the direction of the wagon so as to advance the chute over the hody ot the wagon, and therehy insure a uniform distribution oit the material within the wagon.

1When the operating lever 95 vis in a central or neutral position, the rollers 8i' and 89 will support the loops or arms 7l out oi? engagement with the friction disks 66 so as to permit the loading of the wagon without aiitecting the chute. When the operating lever is moved to a position. directlv opposite to that indicated by the arrow in llt ig.

5 2 ot the drawings, the rocking :trame will be oscillated on the arms 4:5 ot the rigid auxiliary trame, thus moving the lower members ot the loops or arms-7l upwardly into engagement with the lower faces of the triction disks 66 and thus edect the retraction of the chute. lf desired however, the loops or arms 7l may be inv the form of a rackand suitable gear Wheels may be substituted tor the friction wheels 66 for engagement with the racks, thereby positively to move the chute to extended and retracted posin tions.

The forward ends of the arms 45 are preterably bent inwardly and provided with perforations 98 to which may be attached brace rods extending to the wagon or other vehicle, thus to assist in supporting the loading device in position thereon.

The forward end of the supporting trame 5 is provided with converging bars 99 terminating in an eye or loop 10G for attachn ment to the axle of the wagon or other vehicle 7G so as to support the loader in proper sonnes l5 is then actuated to lower the supporting trame carrying the revolving drum or cylinder so asto cause the spurs or gathering devices to engage the ground. is the machine travels over the surface ot a field, the spurs or gathering devices l2 will be moved to extended position at predetermined intervals, thus to collect the manure or other :material and elevate the same ahove the drum where the manure will be taken up by and between the conveyors i7 and 4S and delivered to the chute 56 and thence to the wagon or other vehicle 76., During the travel ot the loader, motion will be transmitted from the traction disks 32' through the medium of the sprocket chains 63 and 59 to the cao-acting conveyers, and through the medium ot the rods 77 and sprocket wheels 5S to the shaking table 74:, thus ta oscillate the latter and eect the movement of the material in the chute and thus prevent clogging of the latter.

lit a center feed is desired, the chute is ad* justed manually until the outer chute seotion 72 registers with the center ot the wagon, when hy moving the lever 95 either forward or backward, the material may be ted toward either endof the wagon. Cono versely, the lower section 72 oi the chute may be positioned. at either end ot the wagon and the material fed toward the center thereof.

l/l/Then the loader is employed tor delivering manure or other material to a spreader,- the chute' 56 is dispensed with, the material being ted directly' from the conveyors 47 and i8 to the endless conveyor of the spreader, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described the invention,ivliat is claimed as new is:

l. ln a machine of the class described, a wheeled truck, a drum mounted itor rotation on the truck, gathering devices carried hy the drum, traction disks independent oit the truck wheels disposed on opposite sides ol?z the drum, cri-acting conveyors adapted to receive the material from the gathering devices, and means tor transmitting motion from the traction disks to the conveyors.

2. ln machine of the class described, a wheeled truck, a drum. mounted for rotation on the truck, gathering devices carried by the drum and movable to extended position at predetermined intervals, a traction disk independent of they truck wheels disposed on one side of the drum, a pawl for locking the traction disk in engagement with the 'drum when the machine is traveling in one direction and movable out of engagement with the disk when the machine is traveling in the opposite direction, a conveyer, and means for transmitting motion .from the traction disk to the conveyor.

3. In a machine of the class described, a wheeled truck, a drum mounted for rotation on the truck vand provided with peripheral openings, gathering. devices normally housed within the drum and movable to extended position through said openings, a disk independent of the truck wheels disposed on one side of the drum and provided with peripheral traction devices, cao-acting conveyers su' ported on the truck above the drum and adapted to receive the material collected .by the gathering devices, and means for transmitting motion from the disk to the conveyer.

4. In a machine of the classdescribed, a sup orting frame, a stationary transverse shaft carried by the frame-and provided with oppositely disposed trunnions, a drum. mounted for rotation. onrthe trunnions and provided with athering devices movable to extended position at predetermined ind tervals, an axle extending through the shaft and provided with opposite disposed crank arms, links ivotally connected with the crank arms, gars forming a connection between the links and frame, spindles extending 'laterally from the links at their-.points of attachment to thebars, ground )wheels journaled on the spindles, `a conveyer.

mounted on the frame above the drum and constructed to receive the material collected by the gathering devices, means'for transmitting motion from the drum to the conveyer, an operating lever secured to the crank shaft on one side of the frame, and a spring actuated locking lever carried by the operating lever and adapted to engage the supporting frame for holding'said supf porting frame ,in lowered position.

5. In a machine of the class described, a Wheeled truck, a drum mounted for rotation on the truck and provided with gathering devices, traction disks independent of the truck wheels disposed on opposite sides ofthe drum, co-actlng conveyers mounted above the drum and adapted toyreceive -the material from the gathering devices, `a

4sprocket wheel secured to .one of the traction disks, sprocket wheels carried by the conveyers, one of sa-id sprocket whelels being provided with a crank pim-fa sprocket chain engaging the Asprocket wheel on the traction disk and sprocket wheels of the conveyer respectively, for transmitting.\mov

tion from one tothe other, anextensible chute, and a shakin table slidably mounted on the chute an provided with oppositely disposedarms for attachment to said crank pin.

6. In a machme of the class described, a`

truck including l a main frame, a drum mounted for rotation on the main frame,4

gathering devices carried by the drum, an auxiliary frame, a conveyer mounted on the auxiliary frame and constructed to-receive the material collected by the gatherinl .devices, a shaft journaled in the aux1 lary frame and provided with friction disks, a chute having rearwardly Vextending arms' embracin the friction disks, 'means for transmittmg motion from the drum to the shaft and conveyer, respectively, and means for vmoving the chute supporting-armsinto and out of engagement with the friction disks, thereby to extend or yretract the chute. 7 In a machine of the class described, a truck including a Vmain frame, a drum mounted for rotation on the main frame, gathering devices carried by the drum, an auxiliary frame, a conveyer, a shaft journaled in the auxiliary frame, a chute, means for transmitting motion from the drum to the conveyer and shaft, respectively, loops extending laterally from the chute, and means lvotally mounted onthe auxiliary frame or movmg the legs ofthe loops 'into and out of engagement with the shaft, thereby to advance or retract the chute.

asv

8. vIn a machine of the class described, a Y

truck including a main frame, a drumv mounted for rotation on vthe mam frame,

gathering devices carried by the drum, an auxiliary frame, a shaft journaled in the auxiliary frame, a conveyer carried by said auxiliary frame and constructed to `receive the material collected by the lathering devices, a chute having rearwar y extending arms embracing the shaft, a rocking frame pivotally mounted on the4 auxiliary frame, rollers carried by the rocking frame and adapted to move the 'chute arms into and out of engagement withthe shaft for ad' vancing or retracting the chute, and means for transmitting motion from the drum to the conveyer and shaft, res ectively.

9. In a machine of the c ass described, a

. truck including a main frame, a drum mounted lfor rotation on the main frame, gathering devices carried by the drum, an

ico

auxiliary frame, oo-acting conveyers mounted on fthe', auxiliary frame, a transverse lshaft journaled in the auxiliary frame, -a chute ,having rearwardly extending sup- Sorting loops embracing the shaft, riction isks having peripheral grooves adapted to receive the oppos1te legs ofthe loops for advancing and retracting` the chute, and a rocking rame pivotall'yA 'mounted 'on the auxiliary frame and vprovided With'spaced rollers adapted to bear against the opposite v legs of'the loops' for movingeither leg thereof into engagement with'. the friction disks of said shaft. y,

10. In a machine of the class described, a truck including la main frame, a drum mounted for rotation on the main frame, gathering devices carried by the drum, an auxiliary frame, co-acting conveyers mounted on the Aauxiliary frame, a chute disposed on one side of the conveyers and 'provided with rearwardly extending loops, al shaft jcurnaled in the auxiliary frame and extending tlir-oligli 'the loops olf tlie cliu'te, rocking freine piyotelly mounted on the auxiliary freine end including singularly disposed srins, slotted levers piyotally conneeted 'wit-li seid arms, Tpins extending leterelly from the suniliary freine and Within tlie slots ol the levers, rollers carried oy the angular arms reind slotted levers, respectively, for engagement with the legs of the loops9 ineens ior transmitting inotion :lroni tlie drum to the cenveyers and sliaitt, resinectifvely9 and ineens for actuating the rocking `l'ierne, thereby to inoye either leg of the loops into and out of engagement with the slislt to advance or retract the chute.

ll. ln :it nizicliine of the class described, et truck including i main freine, s druin mounted for rotation on the inein 'it-naine., gathering devices ezirried by the drinn, en auxiliaiy freine,` s eonveyer mounted ontlie auxiliary 4freine, si shaft journeled in tl'ie auxiliary freine, e chute lieying rearwardly extending erins embracing the shalt, roel:- ing frame pivotelly mounted on seid sui-iilisry :trarne and including engulerly disposed srins, levers pivotslly connected with tlie angular arms of the rocking freine and each having o pin and slot connection with the auxiliary freine, rollers carried 1oy the slotted levers and angular arms el the rocking freine, respectivelys springs con neeting 4tlie slotted levers snol eonveyer,

etienne ineens for actuating the rocking freine to move tlie arms into and out of engagement with the slieft, and means for transmitting motion from the drum to the conveyer and shaft, respectively.

l2. ln e machine of the class described, a truelr including a freine, e drinn mounted for rotation on the treme, gathering de Vices carried by the drumj :i eonyeyer nrranged above the diunnl a shift9 ineens for transmitting motion from the drinn to the conveyei and Shaft, respectively? e elnile,

vloops extending laterally from tlie chute,

and ineens piifotally mounted on the freine for moving the legs 'of the loops into and out of engagement with the shaft, thereby to adi/ence oi' retract the chute.

n machine of tlie class described, :i 'wheeled trueli e gathering device nonned ior rotation on the truck, e ti'neion disk independent oit the truck Wlieels arranged on one side oi said gathering device, coecting eonveyers adapted to receive the inzitcrisl from the gathering device, und ineens fon transmitting motion from the inaction disk to seid conveyers.

lin testimony whereof7 l affix iny signstnre in presence of two witnessesa le ed 

